Rukshana Ali, 22

Last night a drunk man on the bus accused me of thinking I was Saddam Hussein. He was so drunk he didn't know what he was saying. That's frustrating; the misconceptions people have about my religion.

When I was much younger I didn't even know about Islam. I had this image that it was boring and only for our grandparents' generation. I didn't realise that there was so much emphasis on young people. The youth are really considered important to the community. We shape the future.

I properly got involved in my religion when I was about 14. Being involved in the mosque, and getting a better understanding of my faith, opened me up. It gave me confidence in my faith and identity.

I know where I'm going. I know what the purpose of my existence is. I've found strength from the other young women I have met.

I chair Muslimaat UK, a Muslim women's group which brings together young women for community projects. We work with other young women, who may be struggling with all the normal things that teenagers find hard - friends, bullying, schoolwork, drugs. That's about education and community.

There's this view that there's an older man sitting somewhere making all the decisions, but in a truly Islamic society the youth would be listened to, they would be at the forefront of what's happening. People don't understand that about Islam.

I don't know where all the misconceptions come from. They need clearing up.